Alarm dispatching device and system



May 23, 1939. .1. H, wHr-:ELOCK 2,159,304

ALARM DISPATCHING DEVICE AND SYSTEM Filed July 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 23, 1939. J. H. wHEr-:LOCK 2,159,304

ALARM DISPATCHIG DEVICE AND SYSTEM Filed July 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4a V) A w 9 OI Z39 lhvevd'or' John Hwheeock www Patented May 23, 1939 irse stares TENT FFECE Signal Engineering & Manufacturing Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 5,

Ciairns.

The present invention relates to alarm signal systems, particularly fire alarm systems, employing a number of bells or other signals adapted to be sounded, or otherwise operated, in

5 response to the actuation cf any one of a number of separate alarm sending stations, such alarm systems being commonly installed in schools, factories, hotels and other large buildings.

In the operation of alarm signal systems of the above indicated character, it has been found desirable, under some conditions to provide for the operation of a limited number of designated pre-signals upon the initial actuation of a send- 15 ing station, after which an the Signals of the system are operated to give a general alarm, only in the event that conditions warrant the transmission of such a general alarm throughout the entire system. As the sending of a general alarm usually requires the manual operation, by a person in authority, of a sending station which has already been placed in operation to sound only the pre-signals in accordance With a code, confusion is liable to result should the general alarm transmit a partial or broken code sequence followed by a full code sequence.

According to the present invention, there is provided an improved alarm dispatching device particularly adapted for use in connection with a pre-signal and general alarm system, since it effectively prevents a broken or partial code sequence being sounded by the general -alarm signals. In other Words, even though the man- 35 ual operation requiredfor giving a general alarm be performed at the operated box while a code sequence is being sounded by the pre-signals, the general alarm will not be sounded throughout the system until the transmission of a complete code sequence to the pre-signals by the station. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic View illustrating a system embodying the device of the present invention in its normal inoperative condition, preparatory to sending a pre-signal alarm.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view similar to Fig. l, illustrating the circuit relations established for sending a general alarm.

Fig. 3 is a view showing on an enlarged scale the construction of the dispatching device shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of the 1935, Serial No. 29,862

dispatching device for sending pre-signals followed by a general alarm.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing on an enlarged scale the construction of one of the general alarm sending contacts.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown for purposes of illustration as being incorporated in an alarm signal system of the type shown and described in my copending application Serial No. '728,812 filed jointly with Frank Scherma on June 4, 1934 and since issued as Patent No. 2,149,200 on February 28, 1939. The aforesaid application discloses among other features a pre-signal and general alarm system, to which the dispatching device of the present invention may be readily applied, although obviously the device may as Well be employed in connection with other -types of alarm systems.

As best shown in Fig. l, the system provides a section of signals la, hereinafter called presignals, and one or more sections of signals lb, hereinafter called general alarm signals, with the windings 2 of all the signals connected in series with balancing resistors 3 between the sections. The pre-signals la are located at various designated points throughout the system, while the general alarm signals lb are much more Widely distributed, and the invention contemplates the operation of the pre-signals only upon the initial actuation of any one of a number of sending stations, generally designated by the reference character 4, followed by operation of the general alarm signals Ib only in the event that conditions warrant the sounding of a general alarm throughout the system.

The sending stations 4 are disposed at various locations throughout the system from where it is desired to send an alarm, and each station 4 provides a pair of relatively movable contacts 5a and 5b, normally closed so long as the station is in an inoperative condition. Each station also provides a contact actuating member 6 in the form of a cam wheel, the function of which when rotated is to open and close the contacts 5a and 5b to successively interrupt and reestablish the circuit through the stations 4 in accordance With the arrangement of the code determining projections l on the wheel 6. As hereinafter described with reference to Fig. 3, the cam wheel 6 of each station is adapted to be driven through suitable operating mechanism so as to make a number of revolutions in response to each actuation of the station.

The normally closed station contacts 5a and 5b are connected in series with the signal windings 2 and with onze terminal of the energizing winding 8 of a master controller A of the type fully shown and described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,149,290. The other terminal of the winding 8 is permanently connected to a supply main 9, and the normal supervisory circuit of the system includes the winding 8, the station con-k tacts 5a and 5b, and the signal windings 2, from which current flows to the other sup-ply main I8 through a resistor Il and the normally'closed contacts l2 of a time delay cut-out device comprising an operating winding i8 in circuit with one of the contacts l2.

In passing to the winding l3- the Vsupervisory current also traverses the thermal element I4 of an automatic interruptor which also comprises a pair of normally closed contacts i5 connected in circuit with a resistor I6 between the Vsupply main 9 and th-e lower terminal ofy controller winding 8, so-as to constitute a shunt around the winding 8. The existence of this shunt circuit permits the flow of only a Vsmall supervisory current through the winding 8, and as a result,y the winding is not energized suiciently to pull up its main armature lli carrying contacts I8 normally separated from stationary contacts I8 connected to the several sections of signals la and lbf.

` sending station 4 is indicated diagrammatically" Within the dot and Vdash line, and consists of aV rotatable shaft-38carrying the cam or code wheel 6, and the shaft is adapted to be rotated'through The strength of the supervisory current flowingY with the spaced pairs of contacts 2l, 22 and 23,.

respectively, as long asthe armature 2D is held in a raised position.

Each sending station 4 also provides a pair-of normally closed contacts 2l! connected in seriesY across the supply mainsiland lthroughawind- Y ing 2,5. An armature 28 under the control oi theA windingfZcarries contactarmsrZl andfZS insuf lated from each other and maintained out of engagementwith stationary contacts 2,'iaand 28o. as long as the winding 25 remains energized. Withthe arms 2,1 and 28 held out of engagement with the stationary contacts 21a and 28a respectively, the connections between. the signal windings and the stationary controller contacts I9 are such that only the pre-signals la will be sounded Y upon the actuation of apsending station 4. Howe ever, upon opening of the contacts 24 at the operated stationby means of, a manuallycoperable button 29, the4 resulting deenergization ofrwinding 25Y causes engagement of the arms 2l' and 28 `with contacts 21a and 28a, whereupon the general alarm signals lby will be sounded in unison with the pre-signals la yonly atthe conclusion` of a codesequence, due to the functioningrof my improv-eddispatching device which willnextbe de# scribed'. n

Referring now to Fig. 3, the apparatus :at a

apredetermined number of revolutions by a spring motor indicated at 3i upon the operation f of 'a handle 32, Since the construction of the spring/motor--forms no partV of the presi-:ntk invention, and such motors are commonly employed in lire alarm sending stations, it is unnecessaiy to describe the motor in detail, other than to state that upon operation of the handle 82 for the purpose of sending an alarm, the'shaft 38 will be turned through a predetermined number of revolutions an-d will come to rest with the code wheel 6in the position shown.. i

In the normal inoperative position of the stan tion 4, the contacts 5a and 5b are held closed direction of the arrow, the contacts 5a and 5b will be separated as the contact 5a leaves the holding projection 33, after which th-e station contacts will be 11e-closed and re-opened in accordance with the arrangement of the code determining projections 'l lshown herein to give the signal twenty-three.

The shaft also carries ar diskv 34 having a depression in its periphery substantially in line with the holding projection 33. on the code wheel 6. With the code wheel E at rest, a lever Iiipiv-l oted at 3'! is yieldably maintained in engagement with the depression 35 by meansv of a spring 38, with an extension 35a. of the lever terminating just abo-Ve the contacts 24 that are provided at each station 4 for the purpose of sending a general alarm. Upon. rotation of the disk 34 with the code wheel 8, as shown inY Fig. 4, the lever :i5 rides outV of the depression 25, thereby turning the lever in a counterclockwise direction against the pressure of the spring 38 to carry its extension 36a in positionV to prevent separation of the contacts- 24until the shaft 30 makes one complete revoluftion, as shown in Fig. 5. l

The contacts 24 are shown asbeing mounted on the lower wall, 39. ofthe station box, each contact being madeof resilient. material and. being bent towards the other so as tonormally engage above an opening: 401 in the wall 39' through which thegeneral alarm sending, button or key 29 may be inserted from outsidethe station., As best shown in Fig. 6, one of the contacts 24pm.- vides an extension 24a, which'A normally; terminates somewhat below the end Yof the `extension 36a of the lever 35. This same Contact ,24 also provides a cut-out tongue 4lextending longitudinally thereof, which carries a lug42of insulating4 material. With the contacts 24 in engagement with each other, the lug '42 is disposed inthe path of movement of the key 29, so that when the'key is inserted in the opening 4K3', las shownin Fig. 45,

the contacts 24' will be separated, Iprovidedfthev '5;

lever 3o is at that time receivedin the depression 35 of the disk 34. A

If, however, the key 28 should'be inserted inA the box opening 48 for the purposeuof soundingY a general alarm at the time a code is being transmitted by the operated station, as shown in Fig. 4, the extension 36a of the lever 36 preventsl the contacts 24 from beingseparatevd. Under these conditions, the engagement of the end of4 the key 2s with the lugl 42v dene'cts the resilient tongue 4|` out ofthe plane of the remainder of the contact 24, so that the contactremains under tension as `long as? thekeyh is vintvhis posifrevolution, accompaniedby the sending of a com plete code sequence by the code wheel 6', the lever 38 again enters the depression 35,' as shownV in Fig. 5,- whereupon the contactsl 2l!v spring 5 open simultaneously with the return of the levereiten-' sion 36a to--its original position; Therefore, while the insertion of the key 2S places the general alarm contacts 24 under tension in readiness for sending a general alarm, the transmission of a general alarm by all of the signals cannot take place until the pre-signals have completed the sending of at least one code sequence. This insures that the general alarm signals can only sound a complete code sequence, even though the general alarm key 29 be actually operated in the midst of sounding a code by the pre-signals.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, let it now be assumed that the station bearing the code designation twenty-two be operated. Upon the iirst opening of the station contacts 5a, and 5b as the code wheel 5 starts to turn, the complete deenergization of the master controller winding causes the auxiliary armature 2li to drop, thereby closing contacts ZI This throws the thermal element I4 directly across the supply mains, so that by the time the station contacts are reclosed by the first code projection 1, contacts i5 have been opened by expansion of the element I4 to cut the resistor I6 out of circuit with the winding 8. Therefore, upon reclosure of the station contacts 5a and 5b, an increased current iiows through the winding 8, due to the removal of the shunt resistor I6 and the previous closure of contacts 22 which have established a direct circuit to the supply main I0 from the last signal circuit resistor 3. The main armature I'I thereupon pulls up to close the several pairs of master controller contacts I8 and I9. When this occurs, the windings 2 of only the pre-signals Ia are energized through conductors 43 and 44 leading from the supply mains 9 and l5 respectively. It is to be noted that these conductors 43 and 44 are connected to the stationary contacts i9 of only the rst and second pairs of master controller contacts, so that closure of the remaining master controller contacts does not energize the windings of the general alarm signals Ib. Therefore, the rst closure of the main armature II results in sounding the rst number of the code sequence by the pre-signals Ia only, and obviously the pre-signals will sound the entire code sequence for each revolution of the code wheel 6, the system otherwise functioning in the manner fully described in Patent No. 2,149,200.

Let it now be assumed that a person in authority has reached the operated station in the midst of the sounding of a code sequence by the presignals, and immediately inserts the key 29 in the operated box, so that a general alarm will be sounded throughout the system. Since the lever 36 is at that moment riding on the periphery of the `disk 34, the general alarm contacts 24 are not separated, but merely placed under tension, as shown in Fig. 4. The pre-signals therefore complete their sounding of a code sequence, but

as the shaft 3l] completes a revolution and before another sequence can be started, release of the contacts 24 by the lever 36 permits these contacts to open, thereby breaking the circuit through the winding 25, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the contacts 24 at the operated box are opened as described above, the release of armature 26 causes contact arms 2l and 28 to engage stationary contacts 21a, and 28a respectively, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, when continued rctation of the shaft 38 causes reclosure of station contacts 5a and 5b by the rst code projection 'I of a new sequence, the resulting closure of the master controller contacts i8 and I9 causes energization of the general alarm signals ib in unison with the pre-signals Ia. Energization oi the general alarm signal windings 2 results from the fact that the conductors 43 and 44 are connected to the contacts 27a and 28a respectively, then engaged by the arms 2 and 28, which are in turn connected to the two lower pairs of master controller contacts I8. As the station continues to operate for one or more revolutions oi the code wheel shaft 3B, the general alarm signals Ib sound the code sequence in common with the pre-signals, so that the alarm is given throughout the entire system.

After the shaft v3!) has completed a predetermined number of revolutions, it comes to rest with the parts occupying the position of Fig. 3, after which the key 29 is withdrawn from the box by the person responsible for sending the general alarm. If, however, it should be desired to repeat the general alarm, the key 29 is left in and the operating handle 32 is turned to initiate another series of signal sequences. Obviously, with the key 29 in at the start of the operation of the station, the circuit through the contacts 24 will remain broken and the general alarm signals Ib will sound thc entire series of signal sequences.

As previously indicated, deencrgization of the winding 3 permits the auxiliary armature 20 to fall and cause bridging of the contacts 23 by member 23a, as shown in Fig. 2. When this occurs, an energizing circuit is established for a trouble signal 45, since one contact 23 is connected to the main 9, while one terminal of the signal 45 is connected to a main ma. The trouble signal 45 is thus adapted to indicate the occiurence of any fault which results in deenergization of the main controller winding 8.

The trouble signal 45 is also responsive to the maintenance of the normally closed circuit, including the auxiliary station contacts 24 and the winding 25. For this purpose, the armature 25 carries a contact arm 46 that is normally maintained out of engagement with a stationary contact 46a, while the winding 25 remains energized. The arm 46 and contacts 46a are connected in parallel across the trouble signal contacts 23, so that the occurrence of a fault in the normally closed circuit of contacts 24 and winding 25, will result in ene-rgization of the trouble signal 45.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention there is provided an improved alarm dispatching device for use with pre-signal and general alarm systems, whereby a code sending station that is already in operation for transmitting a series of code sequences to the pre-signals can be actuated at any time during such operation to cause the transmission of only complete code sequences to the general alarm signals. In this way, sending of an incomplete code sequence by the general alarm signals is rendered impossible.

I claim:

1. In an alarm signal system, the combination with a code dispatching station, pre-signals and associated circuits energizable upon actuation of said station to send one or more complete code sequences, general alarm signals and associated circuits and means at said station to cause said general alarm signals and circuits to be energized in unison with said pre-signals and circuits, of additional means at said station, operable upon initial actuation of the station in advance of any operation of said general alarm signal energizing means, to prevent the operation of said general alarm signals until said pre-signals have sent one or more complete code sequences.

2. In an alarm signal system, the combination with a code dispatching station, presignals and associated circuits energizable upon actuation of said station to sendV one or more complete code sequences, general alarm signals and associated circuits and means at said station to cause said general alarm signals and circuits to be energized in unison with said pre-signals and circuits, of additional means at said station, operable upon initial actuation of the station in advance of anyv operation of said general alarm signal energizing means, to prevent the energization of said general alarm signals and circuits While the sending of a complete code sequence by said pre-signals is in progress.

3. In an alarm signal system, the combination withY a code dispatching station, pre-signals and associated circuits energizable upon actuation of said station to send one ormore complete code sequences, general alarm signals and associated circuits and means at said station to cause said general alarm signals and circuits to be energized in unisonwith said pre-signals and circuits', of additional means at said station, operable upon initial actuation of the station in advance of any operation of said general alarm signal energizing means to render said iirst-named means ineffective to cause operation of the general alarm signals in unison With said pre-signals, While thesending of a complete code sequence by said prey-.signals is in progress.

fl. In an alarm signal system providing pre-I `signals and general alarm signals, a station providing relatively movable contacts, means for operating said contacts to nomallyisend a series of Y impulses in accordance with a code sequence to said pre-signals only, additional contacts at said station normally closed during the send of code impulses to said pre-signals, means under the control of said additional contacts to prevent'said first-named contacts from sending code impulses to the general alarm signals while said secondnamed contacts remain closed, means for opening said second-named contacts to permit said first-named contacts to simultaneously send code impulses to the general alarm signals and means for preventing the opening of said second-named pulses to the general alarm signals While said second-namedconta'cts remain closed, and means for opening said second-named contacts to permit said rst named contacts to simultaneously send' code impulses to the general alarm signals, said means for opening the second-named contacts being effective only Yat the beginning of thev sending of a complete code sequence to the pre-signals by said iirst-named contacts.v

f JOHN H.A WHEELOCK. 

